The tragic deaths of U.S. Border Patrol Agents Eduardo Rojas Jr. and Hector Clark--who were assigned to the Yuma, Ariz., sector--once again brings to the forefront how frequently police line-of-duty deaths involve vehicle operations.
These two deaths bring to 113 the number of Border Patrol officers killed in the line of duty, according to statistics reported on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website. A disproportionate number of these deaths have occurred in Arizona, and the majority of the deaths have been traffic-related.
The details of this latest incident are unknown, and it would be inappropriate to second guess the actions of the agents involved. Right now, our thoughts and prayers go to the agency and the family and friends of those agents. As the investigation unfolds, let’s continue to commit ourselves to driving down this increasing number of LODDs.
Let’s stay focused on the basics, and stay safe out there.